When Horses Need an Equine Laxative

Constipation, or “impaction,” in horses may be attributed to a medical or nutritional condition that interferes with normal digestive processes. Stress resulting from traveling and trailering, irregular feeding times or changes in season can also cause impaction when no obvious medical problems exist. Abdominal pain stemming from impaction is called impaction colic, a condition relieved by giving the horse a professionally formulated equine laxative.

Prolonged, untreated constipation in horses can be toxic and may lead to the horse developing serious dehydration and systemic illness. Impaction weight and density may also damage the colon's lining and cause permanent damage to the equine digestive system.

Symptoms of a horse suffering constipation and/or colic include decreased manure production, lethargy, frequent lying down and decreased appetite. Horses indicate they are in pain by lowering their head (depression), sweating, breathing heavily, grinding their teeth and generally being restless.

Why Do Horses Become Constipated?

Causes of constipation in horses include intestinal parasites, dehydration, not getting enough exercise, dental problems, trichobezoars (ingested hair) or intestinal stones. The most commonly diagnosed equine intestinal parasites are bloodworms, roundworms and bots. Foals suffering from a roundworm infestation may fail to thrive, have chronic respiratory issues, experience intermittent constipation, and they may grow rough, brittle hair. Bloodworms ingested by adult horses will migrate to an artery at the base of the equine intestine. Once attached to the artery, bloodworms can significantly damage the vessel and impair intestinal circulation. Horses compromised by a bloodworm infestation usually experience constipation, colic and possible rupture of the artery.

Constipation and colic can also be caused by intestinal stones, which form when too much grain accumulates in a horse's hind gut. Excess grain in the hind gut also increases starch fermentation which, in turn, decreases pH and makes the gut much more acidic than normal. Also exacerbating chronic alkalosis and the formation of intestinal stones is how much nitrogen, phosphorous and magnesium a horse's diet contains, since enteroliths (stones) are composed of a mineral-rich material called struvite.

Best Laxative for Horses

The best laxative for horses suffering constipation contains psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid, an active ingredient found in Kauffman's® horse laxative product. By absorbing intestinal liquids and swelling to form a soft stool, psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid works to stimulate bowels and relieve equine constipation.

Kauffman's® laxatives for horses supplement the equine diet and offer a tasty, apple-flavored base attractive to horses. An all-natural, fiber grain complex that’s gentle on your horse's intestinal tract, this equine laxative is also helpful for preventing dust and sand colic, a condition resulting from an accumulation of tiny gravel pieces and sand in the large colon.

Kauffman's® horse colic laxative may also be used for treating various bowel disorders under veterinary supervision.